A morbid but curious thought During part of the trek to Evansville, IN for a cousin's wedding, I listened to a lot of Fresh Air from NPR. One of the stories was about a man whose mother died, and his father asked him to help find a new wife. While this was kind of funny in itself, there was a particular passage that made me think.
The dad bought three plots in the cemetery. One for his wife, one for him, and one for his son. He told his son, "You'll be with me and your mother for all eternity." And the son kind of freaked out. He actually was concerned about having to spend the rest of eternity with his parents.
Now the first part of me simply says "The physical Location your remains have nothing to do with eternity." The guy's corpse is not going to know or care that it is resting next to his parents.
Then I thought about this more. My thoughts are if it would make someone happier to know they would be buried next to me (or me next to them) then go for it. My remains aren't doing me any good so if they can comfort someone else, that's all well and good.
I considered this for a while and thought "what DID I want done with my remains." My first thought is that I would prefer to be cremated. Why waste space putting me in the earth, at least as a 6' by 2' box. I think there are some services where you just get a shroud and get buried and ultimately return to the earth. I guess that wouldn't bother me too much.
So assuming I am cremated, what is to be done with the ashes. I suppose you could just scatter them. As I said, I don't care at this point. I guess I would be screwed if the Russian Orthodox are right and my body is resurrected in the state of death, but I'll take that risk.
It seems like it might be nice to be on a mantle somewhere. I think I would like to have my wife's remains in a jar on the extremely off chance that I survive her. Maybe she'd like to keep me around as well. But THEN what. Maybe one of my kids would want me. PERHAPS a grandkid. There's an outside chance there is a great grandkid who might know me and have some sort of bond that would lead them to want my remains.
But really outside of 2-3 generations no one is going to know me. If I were given my great great grandparents body in an urn, it damn well better grant me super powers, or it gets dropped into storage space. I don't know my great great grandparents and I feel no particular urge to keep their remains around to meditate on or anything. I assume my descendants will likely feel the same about me.
So do I put in my will 'after anyone who cares about me is gone, just scatter the damn ashes already.' Will that inflict some sort of guilt on my descendants as they finally give up and scatter me? Its very confusing.
The stupid world we live in. So, one of my daughters accidentally spilled some water on my cell phone. My wife took it to the T-Mobile people who sent her to CPR (Cell Phone Repair). CPR charged $75 and said that they were "virtually certain" they could make the phone work in 24-48 hours. 72 Hours later they declared the phone dead (and kept my money).
I called T-Mobile and they recommended a second place. That place said it would probably cost $350. I thundered at them that I only paid $150 for my cell phone and would be damned if I would pay $350 to repair it.
I called back T-Mobile and explained this. They told me the $150 was an introductory price and that it would cost ~400 to get my phone replaced. At this point I am in high dudgeon and thundering demands. "How much would it cost to break my contract?" I demand. The answer "$400". I respond, "So if I can get a cheap deal on the new IPhone it would cost about the same. Perhaps Steve Jobs can make a phone that doesn't explode when you dribble on it!"
At that point I was transferred up to senior customer service representative. She explained that because I was a long time loyal customer of T-Mobile that they would give me the original $150 price to replace my phone. I accepted that and went on my way.
My question: Why do we have to go through all this craziness to get where we want to be. Obviously T-Mobile was going to offer me the $150 deal. I knew it, they knew it. Why did they have to waste my time with the $400 deal. Were they just hoping I would meekly swallow it?
And in my opinion it is WRONG to take advantage of the people who will meekly swallow thing. I hate getting work done on my car because of the REPUTATION that car people will take advantage of you if they think they can get away with it. Fortunately we have a reputable guy (DeLong's Auto Service) and I am reasonably confident that I can trust his recommendations.
And the same with the crazy expectations. Before I give someone money, they are "virtually certain" they can provide the result I want. But once the money is in their hand, they are far less certain. That's why I hate litigation. If I take a case, I feel really bound to get my client a better deal than they would have gotten without my assistance. I feel guilty if I don't think I did enough or I somehow made things worse. But sometimes this happens, and attorneys take your money all the same.
Why can't people just be reasonable with each other.
What were we watching! So, the new hotness meme of the internet is the "Literal Video Verson" of old 80s MTV videos. This is funny because there was a weird trend back then to make the Music Videos into little 5 minute movies that occasionally had only tangential relations to the original songs.
One of my favorite ones (and the one that is on like 20% of my friend's LJ pages is the "Total Eclipse of the Heart" video from Bonnie Tyler.
The first time I watched this I died laughing and demanded twelveoaks come and watch it. The second time I noticed something a little more disturbing.
On a Homoerotica scale from 1 to 10, this one goes to 11! And its not just homoerotica, it is pedophilia/ephebophilia homoerotica. Somehow I know Mark Foley has this song on continuous feed in his basement.
So what exact demographic was MTV shooting for when they filled the screen with half naked 16 year olds? twelveoaks insists that they are trying to titillate teenage girls. This is certainly possible. But generally MTV was watched by teenage boys. She also insists that a LOT of MTV videos were like this and I was just clueless. I remember watching Total Eclipse of the Heart and enjoying the creepy glowing eyed people, but I don't at all recall the students pulling off their uniforms and dancing around in leather speedos.
Some legal stuff I really should set up an Icon for Legal. Often it's going to hit politics I guess so I will use that one. Two big deals have shown up in the legal world and I thought I'd lay my thoughts down on them. The first is Judge Sotomayor's appointment to the Supreme Court. The second is the ruling in California on Prop 8.
Speaks and Anger Management I often say "I don't have time to stay angry at people." And generally this is true. If you say something to upset me, I may go off the handle RIGHT THEN but usually within an hour or two I don't care near as much anymore.
HOWEVER. While My anger tends to run hot and then burn out, my memory never dies. if you get me to the boiling point, I will always remember in the back of my head that you did so.
The current case in point is Fidelity National Title Company. They decided that my business was too risky and dropped my agency with them even though they admitted that my files were thorough and correct.
Every year I hunt down Robbie Diamond (a fidelity employee at the time. She hasn't worked there for like 3 years but she made the decision to terminate my agency) at the Real Estate seminar and tell her that My business is doing well. (although less so the past few years). Today I did a closing that had an old loan open from 1999 on it. I looked through and said "Oh this property was insured last week by Fidelity. If that 1999 deed comes up, THEY are responsible for it. I will do NOTHING to fix it." And the thought that a Fidelity Agent would stick Fidelity with a claim made me gleeful.
The moral of this story is that taking advantage of me is a bad idea. Doing it on a long term basis is worse. Heaping indignities on me when I am already upset is a recipe for passive aggressive behavior the likes of which the world has never seen.
Its been a while Generally I post when something really gets me happy. I also post when things really upset me. On the plus side, that means when I am quiet, generally things are just motoring along. On the minus side, I fear I may be falling a bit into a rut, and a rut that doesn't include the social niceties of being with friends, which I really love.
So I thought I'd catch everyone up a bit on whats going on in my world. Feel free to skip with the understanding that all is more or less well in speaksville.
They seem cute and harmless, but apparently like all cute Japanese things, they are filled with a substance 50x the volume of the original item... under high pressure.
I just have an image of a pin barely pricking the surface of this adorable doll, only to have jet streams of micro beads spewing forth and covering every square inch in a 3 mile radius.
The Center DOES hold As many people know. I have been off balance the last few weeks. Stresses over taxes. Various work Stress. Insurance. Etc. It has left me drained, and unable to deal with people (I actually spent a lot of last Week's D&D game and post game goobing staring at my computer screen).
Fortunately, that finally seems to be rubbing off. This morning, I lay in bed with my wife, about an hour before time for work. I spooned with her and just let myself be. I occasionally thought about the kids and how wonderful they were. I thought about fun times with friends both real and virtual. Mostly I just relaxed and let the world wash over me.
And really, I think those are the times I am truly happiest. Sure there are times where something really cool is going on. I'll be in a raid and we down a boss after a zillion wipes. My daughter comes home with straight As. My wife cooks a really good meal. But as the Bhudda says, these things are transitory. And they certainly are. The meal will be over. The flush of victory for myself or others will fade.
But that calm joy with the universe can be unending. I could have concievably lain in bed forever, just blissing. Its one of the few eternal things that I think exist in this world. And its always there. If you can tune out the ups and downs of the world. If you can relax and just listen to the music of the spheres. You can find bliss in the quiet that is always waiting for you.
And so. I say to everyone that is stressed and upset. Or even those that are now deliriously happy. Just remember the centering calm. It can get you through anything.
My apologies To those who were subjected to vulgarity from choke_yourself. I have banned him from commenting in my livejournal.
I try to be tolerant and I encourage diverse points of view, but it finally got to the point where he was just cursing at people and making various slurs.
I have deleted the contentless replies, but have allowed his other comments to stand. If perhaps he shows a little more maturity in the future he will be welcomed home.
Its been a month for this. I have deleted myself from someone's journal asetruteacher aka "ElfCat" and now I have to do this.
This I believe Ever since moving to Atlanta. I have become an increasingly bad Catholic. My attendance in church dropped (of course in Knoxville it was made easier that I was in walking distance of my church). My eldest daughter has not received first communion (although I DID get them both baptised). This year I only hit 2 weeks of Fasting/Meatless days during Lent. I didn't even make Easter services this year.
A big part of it is that my wife is not Catholic and not much of a church goer. My kids sense that and drag their feet as well. I am often far too willing to sit at home and watch B5 with Cosmo than I am to go to mass. And a part of me says they fulfill a similar function.
So as sort of an offering, I am going to publically discuss my faith. Feel free not to look under the cut if you are likely to be upset by such things.
Whiney Attention Whore Alert I've really been torn about PETA. On one hand, I do like that someone speaks out for animals who cannot defend themselves from cruelty. I don't necessarily think we should completely stop animal testing, or fishing, or eating meat. I'm not a big fan of fur as a fashion accessory, which was one of their original mainstays. Hunting whales to extinction is probably not a great thing either (although thats more a Greenpeace issue).
We quit sending PETA money when they started sending gruesome photographs of trapped animals that our children could pull out of the mail or the trash. Apparently their antics are becoming increasingly desperate.
Even if I agree with your goals, if you continually do stupid things or are annoying, I am not going to associate myself with you. I think thats what Richard Dawkins is missing. He may have valid points but he's such an asshole about it, that I won't give him any credit.
PETA needs to calm down and go back to helping animal shelters or the like.
Congrats to the Coon/Iguanna Family! outlawcoon and sulleniguana are probably exhausted right now and possibly still in a mild state of shock, so I don't think they'd mind me letting the world know that they are the new conservators of an incredible fortune.
It all started when they got a letter from Nigerian woman named Dr. Slaporolfi whose husband had just died. She was afraid that the government would seize the funds, and so she placed them into a super secret account somewhere off the Swiss Alps.
She was looking for a good Christian family to send the money to, because she knew that it would then be used for humanitarian purposes. She randomly selected our friends through the use of a Brittish E-Mail Lottery system.
All they had to do was give their social security number, banking information, address, phone number, blood samples, hair follicles, and a used kleenex to this total stranger in Nigeria and they would be fabulously wealthy.
At first they were dubious, but the clear and concise writing of the e-mail, and the mysterious drabble of an Emily Dickenson poem at the end assured them of the letters authenticity. So this information has all ben sent out to Dr. Slaporolfi.
I haven't seen either of them sense, but I am sure they are celebrating their newfound wealth as we speak!
FoD recap. Went to the March 3 day for Forest of Doors with Cosmo. Had a great time overall.
Sadly, I found that I am an old man. The 3 day left me sore, stiff and sinus flared for 2 days. Sunday I did almost nothing but Sleep. Monday I went to work but I was mostly a useless lump. My calves were like knives. My neck, nose and temples were throbbing from polen.
Today I feel much better and practically human.
So my top two event moments as a PC was going with a group of hippies to check out more about the mysterious world of Oun. I wonder if the PCs that complain about Oun exploiting the natural resources and aboriginal peoples in other worlds ever take that thinking with them out of the game when they are driving their gas guzzling cars and wearing clothes that were probably made with slave labor. My character agrees that Oun is probably going about things wrong, but really has no problem using other worlds and people. Afterall the Apsara use spirits on a regular basis. They just pay them.
The second moment was my introduction to a Princess of the Realm of Castles. My character is one of the biggest magic users in the game (just picked up my 4th school of magic) and the realm of castles is prejudiced against magic. I introduced myself as a Ghandarva (an Apsara word for magician) and when she asked what that meant I sidestepped it and claimed to be a "practitioner of the Currents of DeepSpirit." Eventually she figured out I was a magician and started reacting negatively. At that point I went for the kill, explaining that I was trying to learn the magics of all worlds and mentioned that worlds without magics are considered "lesser worlds" or "shadow worlds".
Naturally that went poorly with the one realm that does not have an established school of magic that PCs can come from. I will not be invited to tea any time soon.
My favorite NPC "moment" was playing a troll worshiper. I cornered clockwork_brain unarmed with me and 10 of my best friends. I pointed my blade at him and said "Scream." in my best Batman voice. He started arguing with me about the rightness of my actions. I tried again, "Scream or I will kill you." He continued to lecture me. I beat him down.
Then I found a SECOND unarmed and helpless PC. "Scream" I told her in my Batman voice. She started LAUGHING! AIIUGH!
Apparently I roll ones on skill checks both at ranch_medicine's game and at LARPs.
One of the podcasts I listen to about gaming (Fear the Boot) is very negative about LARPing. I think they are mostly used to Salon LARPs. They refer to LARPers as "Dark Lord of the Denney's" I think they are being unfair. LARPs are far more immersive and character building than tabletop sessions. And they actually appeal to the senses rather than just the imagination.
A back pat, and a review it is not often I use my forum for self aggrandizing, but I'm going to indulge just this once. On the plus side I'll give you my review of watchmen so its not a total waste.
My favorite Ash Wednesday Memory Back in my college days I did a lot of church functions as part of my possible entry into the priesthood. I was a Lector. I was a Eucharistic Minister. I was an Altar Boy. But best, I distributed Ashes on Ash Wednesday.
I wore a black polo shirt and black jeans to be more somber and cannonical. At the time I was 6'2" and tipped the scales about 160 #. So I was pretty long and lanky.
I would smudge my finger in the ashes and swipe a cross along the forehead of the penitant and intone: Remember man (woman) that thou art dust, and unto dust thou shalt return.
One lady brought her 5 yr old or so daughter and actually pushed her forward in line. I knelt down, ashed her forehead and said the intonation. The little girl burst into hysterical crying!
Sympathy for the Martin As many of you know, there is an author named George R.R. Martin. He has written the first four books in a series that has seen some prominence called "A Song of Ice and Fire." He has suffered writers block for the past 2 years and book 5, which we were promised back in 2007, still has not come out and his current tenative date is probably around Christmas 2009.
He keeps a blog which he allows open to comments. His last entry was to complain about people who keep bugging him about when the next installment will be out. Particularly nasty are people who commented that he was "old and fat" and they didn't want another Robert Jordan problem (where the author dies before finishing the series)
Now, one part of me is very sympathetic to Mr. Martin. Its his own damn work. If he wants to chuck the book now and say "I've decided not to write the last 3 books" he is well within his rights. So in that sense we are not "owed" those books and have no real right to complain that they are not out yet.
The other part of me says, "Mr Martin has opened himself up to this criticism." In the first place, he has probably made a fairly nice sum of money on these books. So he is a public figure. Its more or less the same as the people dissing George Lucas for the Star Wars Prequels. In the second place, he has created a public blog where he allows public comment. Now, It is rude to make non-germaine posts on a blog (if Martin is talking about the football games, don't bring up Dances with Dragons). But given the passion for the books, it should not be overly surprising. In addition if Martin updates his blog and says "Didn't get as much done on DwD as I would have liked." You are just opening yourself up to hundreds of posts saying "get off your fat ass and type!"
More from the light side. In an effort to keep things light during the turmoil. I have yet another amusing annecdote for you.
I am a big fan of the musical stylings of Paul and Storm formerly of Da Vinci's Notebook. They travel all over the US with Jonathan Coulton and do their music. I highly recommend their stuff (Paul and Storm, Da Vinci's Notebook, AND Jonathan Coulton).
Recently I found a podcast on Itunes that is "Paul and Storm talk about things for 10 minutes (On average)." Now I have yet to hear a show that was not at least half an hour. But its deifnately worth listening to as well.
The last episode they talked a lot about their tour that took them to BURLINGTON IOWA!!
Whacky clients Every so often I take litigation cases. Its not something I do lightly. It is generally a sign of the poor economy or its a friend. I generally regret every case I take.
HELP! Often I get advice from my good friendcomic_monkey about what are the cool comics out there. I take his advice as gospel and he has never really steered me wrong.
But now I have a tougher though. I need a super hero comic that is appropriate for my 11 year old to read. She specifically asked for super heroes and she is 11. Get to work!
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